Paul Recker flew with Crew 8 during the 1974 deployment and served as the Assistant Training Officer. During the 1975 deployment, he flew with Crew 8 and was the Assistant Avionics/Armament Officer.
Paul Robert Recker, 70, returned to his Lord on Tuesday March 17, 2020 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, concluding his battle with cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Constance Recker, and his father-in-law, Edwin Walhout. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Nancy (Walhout), his children, Daryl (Laura), Kyle (Katherine), Tara (Christopher) Warwick, and his grandchildren, Natalie & Emily Recker, Samantha, Maley, & Ryan Recker, and Joseph Warwick. He is also survived by his five brothers, William (Linda), Theodore (Eunice), Robert (Sandra), Timothy (Judith), Mark (Diane); his mother-in-law, Alma Walhout; siblings-in-law Mary (David) Thornton, Ruth Jones, James (Cheryl) Walhout, Elizabeth (Robert) Banning; and 21 nieces and nephews. Paul lived his first 17 years in Nigeria, where he attended Hillcrest School in Jos. After returning to Michigan, he graduated from Calvin College before joining the US Navy. During his 21-year career, he served in many capacities including P-3 Orion mission commander, where he was instrumental in locating the hijacked ship Mayaguez during the Vietnam War. After receiving his Master’s Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, Paul finished his career as the Executive Officer for the Naval Antarctic Support Unit of the National Science Foundation, based in Christchurch, New Zealand. He retired to Grand Rapids in 1993, and began his second 20-year career with John Hancock. Paul was kind, gracious, and filled with an abundance of joy. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, reading with them and playing games with them at every opportunity. He put everyone else first, and his greatest joy in life was making people happy. Because of restrictions due to Coronavirus, there will be no service or visitation, however a memorial service will be held at a future date. If desired, donations can be made in Paul’s name to the Wounded Warrior Project.
https://www.zaagman.com/obituaries/Paul-Robert-Recker?obId=12472901
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